Jeddah

Saudi Arabia

Jeddah Travel Information

The Basics

Time

GMT +3

Electricity

125 volts, 50Hz, but 215 volts, 60Hz in some (more remote) areas.

Language

Arabic is the official language in Saudi Arabia, but English is widely understood.

Travel Health

Anyone arriving in Saudi Arabia from a country infected with
yellow fever requires a vaccination certificate for entry. People
travelling to perform Hajj and Umrah are required to be inoculated
against meningitis before travel and must present a vaccination
certificate on arrival; a meningococcal vaccine is recommended for
all travellers. Respiratory infections are common among pilgrims
during the Hajj season. Not compulsory, but definitely advisable,
is vaccination against hepatitis A, polio and typhoid fever. There
is a malaria risk in the south and parts of the western region of
the country and visitors should take advice on anti-malarial
precautions at least four weeks before leaving; an outbreak of
cerebral malaria has occurred in Jizan. Rift Valley Fever has also
occurred, mainly in the Jizan area. Dengue fever has been reported.
Food poisoning is a risk outside the good hotels. Visitors should
only drink bottled water. The standard of medical care and
facilities in Saudi Arabia is high, but treatment is expensive,
therefore health insurance is strongly advised for all
travellers.

Tipping

Service charge is usually included in bills at hotels. Elsewhere
a tip of 10 percent can be offered for services rendered. Taxi
drivers can be given 10 percent of the fare.

Safety Information

Travel safety in Saudi Arabia is a concern. The US and British
authorities believe terrorists may be planning further attacks
against Westerners and in places associated with Westerners in
Saudi Arabia following recent incidents in which foreign nationals
were killed. Aviation interests remain a possible terrorist target.
Attacks in the past have included kidnappings, targeted shootings
and bombings of shopping areas, government offices and car bombs.
Visitors who choose to risk entering the country should ensure they
have individual security arrangements, remain vigilant, keep a low
profile and avoid public gatherings. Visitors should be
particularly alert in public places frequented by foreigners such
as shopping malls, restaurants and hotels and in the desert outside
Riyadh. Pilgrims are increasingly being targeted by pickpockets in
Mecca and Medina and are advised to take care of personal
possessions. In recent years pilgrims have died due to overcrowding
and stampedes at events during Haj. Religious police patrols
rigorously enforce codes of behaviour and dress prescribed by
Islamic law and visitors should respect these.

Local Customs

Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country in which Islamic law is
strictly enforced. No alcohol, pork products or religious books and
artefacts not related to Islam are permitted in the country. There
are no bars in Saudi Arabia, and alcohol is served nowhere to
anyone of any religious persuasion. Dress should be conservative at
all times, and women should take particular care not to offend.
Visitors are advised to familiarise themselves with behaviour and
dress codes before entering the country. Homosexual behaviour and
adultery are illegal and can carry the death penalty. Photography
of local people, government buildings, military installations and
palaces is not allowed, and women are not permitted to drive.
Religious customs should be respected, particularly during the
month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight
hours should be discreet as it is forbidden by the Muslim culture.
The right hand should be used for everything, including eating and
the giving and receiving of things, as the left is considered
unclean. It is illegal to hold two passports, and second passports
will be confiscated if discovered by immigration authorities.

Business

If you are looking to do business in Saudi Arabia, prepare
yourself for a unique experience. The Saudi corporate world is
perhaps the most foreign of any of the Gulf nations, and in all
likelihood you are going to have to remain flexible and to learn
new skills, in order to make a real success of your time in the
country. It is vitally important to understand that Saudi society
is underpinned by fervent belief in the tenets of Islam.

The business culture of Saudi Arabia is prototypically Arabic,
in that a great emphasis is placed on personal relationships
between business associates - Saudi businessmen will always prefer
to do business with people they are familiar with, or people who
they feel they can trust, so it is worth putting in the time and
effort to cultivate business relationships. In Saudi Arabia,
business meetings will most likely be lengthy, and subject to
numerous interruptions and personal digressions. While this might
be frustrating to those who are used to keeping 'on the clock', and
tackling an agenda at meetings, don't become frustrated - rather,
endeavour to fit in and exercise as much patience as possible. You
will be judged on your conduct in meetings, so treat them as
necessary parts of the relationship-building process. Business
negotiations in Saudi Arabia can become heated; however, raised
voices are considered a sign of passion, considered a valuable
trait in the business world.

Despite the heat, business dress in Saudi Arabia is strictly
smart, formal and conservative, especially for women, who must take
extreme care not to wear anything too revealing.

The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic, though English
is widely spoken and widely understood in the business world.

Hours of business are generally from 8am to 12pm, and then 3pm
to 6pm, from Saturday to Thursday.

Communications

The international dialling code for Saudi Arabia is +966 and the
outgoing international code is 00, followed by the relevant country
code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g.
(0)1 for Riyadh. Mobile telephone coverage is extensive, even in
remote parts of the country. Internet facilities are available in
most towns and cities.

Duty Free

Travellers to Saudi Arabia do not have to pay duty on 600
cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g tobacco; or perfume or cultured
pearls for personal use. Duty is payable on cameras and other
electronic goods, and refunds on these are available if the
articles are re-exported within 90 days. Strictly prohibited are
food products and carbonated water, animals and birds and palm
trees or derivatives thereof. Other prohibited items include
alcohol, firearms, drugs, pork products and natural pearls.

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